HEBREW WORD STUDY – TENDER MERCIES – RACHAM רחמ

Psalms 25:6: “Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they [have been] ever of old.”

What are tender mercies? It sounds good but I really have no idea what that means. The NIV says Great Mercy, NLT Compassion unfailing love, ESV Steadfast love, NASB Compassion, CEV Patience and GNT Kindness. The word in Hebrew is racham which also means a very personal and individualized blessing, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindness, consolation, support, spiritual gifts, gift of faith, personal confidence beyond our own capacity, Repentance and forgiveness, peace of conscience, persistence, fortitude and added cheerfulness. What is the correct rendering in Psalms 25:6 for racham that the KJV renders as tender mercies? So many modern translations and each giving their own spin on what they feel racham means. Who is correct?

Actually, no one translates this from its Semitic root. For in its Semitic root it means the womb. It represents the love a mother has for her child while in the womb, a love that has yet to be challenged by rebellion or defiance. David is asking God to remember the love He had for Him before he ever sinned, committed adultery or murder. We have no English word for this kind of love.

How can we really know what English word to apply to this kind of love when there is no English word that exactly fits racham? Buy my book Learning God’s Love Language and you will find the answer. The book will explain what I am about to say here: God gave us the Hebrew language as an ambiguous language so that he can personalize His word for us. If you study out each word as I explain in my book you can then sit back and let the Holy Spirit tell you which word applies to you personally. He is a personal God who has a way of saying “I love you” that fits you personally.

Between you and me, I would much rather have the Holy Spirit tell me what word to use that would fit me personally rather than some dusty, grumpy old professor sitting in his ivy tower who hasn’t kissed his wife in 20 years telling me what God’s love, racham means.